A bit of this and that ~

 Morning yoga class...an excellent way to start the day.

 

Namaste

 

 

 

A stop at the library on the way home. I was lucky to find some very interesting new books, including Maeve Binchy's last novel, I will miss her wonderful books they are always such a joy to read.

 

A quick detour to the nursery for some summer annuals to perk up the garden: Rudeckia's and a little, ground Morning Glory that charmingly trails and is wonderful for edging borders.

 

Then, some sewing. This dress is so easy to make and turns out so well it is almost sinful. Just four seams and some bias edging, out of knit fabric it is very comfortable in the hot weather; great to slip on while running errands.



 

 All in all a rather nice way to spend a day. I hope you had a productive and happy day too.

 

This post has been linked to: http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/, http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

What the heat brings ~

It is hot! And one of the few positive things about the heat is the blooming of the Crepe Myrtles.

 

 Crepe Myrtles come in many colors, and are used in some areas of Southern California as street trees. The one you see here is a smaller variety called: Pink Pagoda, I love the fragile texture and soft color of the blooms.

 

I have two, the one you see here in the front and another in the rear garden next to the pond. 

 

The flowers are so pretty but really not good for cutting...alas, I have to enjoy them where they are. 

 

Although it is only July I am already longing for cooler weather and...rain! How wonderful that would be.

 

Thank you for visiting.

Long may it wave ~

Is there anything more beautiful than our American flag blowing freely in the wind? As many times as I have seen this symbol of our country it still never fails to bring a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye.

 

 

Happy Fourth of July

 

Parasols dans le jardin ~

I always officially welcome summer by taking my red umbrellas out of storage and putting them throughout the garden. I had them all made one year to match the awnings and trim paint on the house.

 

 

I love the pop of color!



They seem to say, "come and sit here for a while and relax a bit, you can finish weeding later".

 



 

Tomorrow I just might eat my lunch here...what do you think? 

 

Thank you for visiting,

Garden Cart ~

 

What has four big wheels, is bright yellow, and was a challenge to put together?

 

My new garden cart! Well, it really isn't new, it has been sitting in the box in the storage shed for almost ten years. My husband brought it home one day to surprise me but for some reason it never got assembled. Recently I realized how handy it would be and after my success with  the wheelbarrow I decided to tackle putting this monster together.

Voila!

 

It took a bit of a battle and a lesson on Nylock nuts and bolts but as you can see I got it done. I was wasting so much time and energy walking back and forth from one end of the garden to the other and then back to the storage shed looking for a shovel, rake, or other tool that I needed, now I can take my tools with me to the spot where I am working. 

 

It holds all of my basic gardening equiptment and has room for bags of chicken manure (which I use a lot of), gypsum, and other soil additives, plus a container for clipping and weeds. For something so large it is amazingly easy to navigate.

 

Handy indeed, I should have done this years ago!

 

 

 

Harvesting flowers for winter ~

This week I have been gathering flowers to dry for winter arrangements. I always do roses and hydrangeas but I also like to include other flowers, seedpods, and various foliage.

 

 

Right now I have lots of Yarrow, Statice and Sea Lavender blooming and while they are at their peak it is the perfect time to harvest. I also have some Love-in-a-mist seed pods. All of these are super easy to dry. You don't have to do anything but cut them, gather them together in a container, or allow to hang while they dry.

 

I put them together in a basket to take these pictures and they looked so pretty that I set them as is in a cool, shady spot on a chest in the guest room to finish the drying process; later I will separate them and mix them with other dried flowers and foliage for winter bouquets.

 

The wonderful thing about these three plants is how beautifully they retain their color and shape after drying.

 

This is so easy you might want to give it a try, in the long days of winter when not much is blooming a bouquet of dried flowers can add a special touch to a room.

 

Thank you for visiting. I hope you have a flower filled day.

 

This post has been linked to: http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

 

The Huntress ~

 The garden has been host to a family of Blue Jays this spring. They built a nest in a climbing rose just steps from the back door. They are fearless and very protective of their nestlings, dive bombing me if I dare to walk too close.

 

Miss Twiggley doesn't know about this, what she does know is that these very entertaining creatures are providing her with a great deal of entertainment. She follows their activities from every available window sometimes running through the house...this morning she was in rapt attention while they fluttered about in the big fig tree outside the kitchen. Every once in a while flicking her tail like the huntress that she would like to be!

 

 

Sorry Miss Twiggley you will have to be happy with your basket of toys and tinned food. 

 

Thank you for visiting. Miss Twiggley says, "Meow".

Après le thé ~

What does one do with all of those cute little tea containers after the tea in gone and you can't bring yourself to throw them away...use them as little vases!

 

 

 I took three empty tea tins, stacked them on my kitchen counter and filled them each with a small bouquet. My Shasta daisies are blooming, I think everyone likes daisies they are such happy flowers.

 

I could just have well lined them up in a row on the window ledge...maybe next time.

 

Just a bit of fun for the day.

 

And a happy day to you! Thank you for visiting.

 

This post has been linked to: http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/

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